Wednesday, December 10, 2008

I am a christian. I believe God in totalty.I live life knowing that the bible is true. If he said it, then it is true. And if he asked it of us, then we should obey. Even in seemingly little things as not calling people fools, not worrying, not stealing even a pen from work etc. It is of course, only by His grace.

I am very tolerant of other religions, beliefs as long as it is not going to harm the next person. To each his own. I hardly ever preach to non-christians, my life should be the message. I strongly believe that if 30% of christians were really christians,then 70% of unbelievers would convert.

I am also very unsympathetic towards 'christians' who come crying foul about how one pastor or the other decieved them into having sex, or someting of the kind. I recently read on NVS about some foreigner telling all she went through at TB Joshua's hand. I just do not get it, how lazy can Christians be, read the freaking Bible silly and you won't be tossed to and fro. Nonsense! Christ has invested in you the power to heal, to get wealth, to trample upon snakes and scorpions, to show love, to be free etc. Just spend a little more time in prayer and stop running off to pastors at the slightest sign of wahala. You would be amazed at just how much power God has invested in you. While I am not deemphasizing the need for pastors, I am instead emphasing the need for Christians to build a personal relationship with Christ. If we knew God for ourselves, there will be no business for child witch hunters or TB Joshua's of this world.

Much as I am fascinated by healing, I believe that the most important message Christ preached was love. Love yourself.Love your neighbor as you love yourself. As we celebrate the yuletide, my prayer is that we will all learn to love ourselves more and in the same vein, love our neighbors.

DO SOMETHING KIND FOR SOMEONE THIS SEASON, LET'S PASS A SMILE ACROSS MANY FACES.

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

I passed by someone’s blog the other day and she had a nasty comment about Nigerian films. Something about all the films being crap. Now had the entire post been on Nigerian films, I may not have been so upset but it wasn’t, it was on a totally unrelated matter. She just felt the need to chip that in.

I write for Nollywood. I also write short stories, which have been published locally and internationally, I have even managed to win myself an award. The same brain/skill/talent I use to write these short stories is what I use to write Nollywood scripts. But because the white man has put a stamp on my stories, the Nigerians have therefore called it good. I would sooner write the screen play than the story because for the screen play I tell Nigerian stories in any way that I want to tell them. For the stories, the market is not here so when I write, because my audience is the westerner, I am continuously looking over my shoulder to be sure that he is following me therefore I am often forced to write to type.

I was privileged to meet a very well known young Nigerian author whose works I admire. In the course of our chat, I mentioned that I did not like one of her works. She did not give me a chance to complete the sentence but jumped to defend herself almost in anger. This is a lady whose works have received much acclaim, why did it matter to her that a layman like me did not like it. I expected that by now she would have been used to criticism but perhaps no one can get used to them.

My first question to self appointed critics is always, what have you done yourself? When last did our engineers build bridges , or the scientist invent a thing, or the mathematician a formula or the doctor/pharmacist a cure. It is only in the Arts and Fashion world that we are creating our own content. It is easy for the office worker to sit behind his high chair and criticize other people’s efforts because we are unable to judge him, but I bet that a large percentage of these oversabi’s are performing poorly in their own respective fields. Big brother can testify to that.

I read stories on blogs every now and then and some of them are so bad yet these same writers would say all Nigerian films are crap. The generalisation just makes me mad. Yes 80 %, maybe even more of our films are poor , but for whatever little percentage that is left, they deserve credit. Criticism is good but only when it is constructive, all I ever hear is oh, the story is unrealistic. Yes, stories should be believable but if I wanted to write reality, I would be writing nonfiction.

Nollywood has got it’s challenges, we know it more than you do, and we are doing the best we can towards overcoming them and producing better content but in the meantime, this is what we gat. If you don’t like it, don’t watch or as one of my friends would say, Abeg fly!

Thursday, November 27, 2008

My mother hardly reads or listens to the news. She says it is not good for her age and blood pressure. I think I may have to do the same.

For the past months, it's been one horrible news after the other. From Okere being harrassed by naval officials to Elendu's arrest to Akwa Ibom Child witches to Ribadu's victimization. I am not sure I can take it anymore.

Why have we as Nigerians chosen to create disasters for ourselves. I heard a comedian say that the natural disasters we have in Nigeria are majorly the Nigerian police and NEPA. He should have added religion or supestition to the list.

I am amazed at the level of ignorance and poverty among our people because the way I see it, these are the two most important factors that would push a mother/father/relative to label his kid a witch and agree that he/she should be killed or abandoned.

While I applaud the people who have taken this issue up(I would personally like to see the perpetrators brought to book),I know that it is not enough to try to stop the madness or to rehabilitate the children. What we need to collectively do is to enlighten the public on the stupidity of some of these allegations. I hate to ever bring in the government but in this case, the government has to help. It has to be made a punishable offence if you label someone a witch. Otherwise, we would simply be turning round in circles. The noise will fade, some of the spiritual houses may be shut down but give it some time and there will be back with more evil deeds.

The issue cannot be seen as just an Akwa Ibom problem, for it isn't. My neigbor thinks I am taking a huge risk by not first taking my domestic staff for deliverance and she isn't the only one. Several people even in supposedly civilized cities like Lagos believe in this. Get a maid from the village and you must first deliver her as she may be a witch. As long as this is the general belief or the near general belief, then the likes of Helen Ukpabio will continue to thrive and the abuse will continue.

For us to have a lasting solution, some churches will need to be shut down.The church has too much influence on its members. The case of Pastor King is still fresh in our memories. Where on earth is PFN or CAN in all of these?

Saturday, November 08, 2008

Thoughts and voices elude me. Blank.Blank. Did this happen in this life or in another?

The media has been agog with the story of Uzoama Okere who was stripped and beaten by men of the underworld headed by Harry Arogundade earlier this week.They operated at day in full public glare, I can imagine one of them telling the other to take it easy, and the other replying that this is Nigeria and he can do as he pleases. The question that faces us now is can he? Will we let him?. Because we are the only ones who can decide what happens next. Nigerians are such a docile set of people, I, inclusive but since we have all been intoxicated by Obamaness, perhaps we will now rise and challenge this situation.

I’m starting to think that we are not really humans here, how else do you explain the way the leaders treat us and more importantly, the way we allow them to treat us? Even animals have defence and attack mechanisms, what do we have? As a blogger friend of mine, nonesuch, wrote, to make up for the lack of power supply, we bought generators in all shapes and sizes, for bad roads we bought jeeps, and for security we turned to OPC. Practically everyone I know in Lagos, has got OPC on their streets. So now, I wonder for police/ military brutality, will we wear straight jackets?

"So why am I so sad? My fear has always been that in typical fashion, we will celebrate Obama mindlessly but fail to understand and do those little things that bring about such great moments in history. I fear that in the way we admire, enthuse about and consume the world’s most luxurious and innovative products but fail to make one of our own at any level of sophistication, we will enthuse and buy into Obamamania but we will not “do” Obama. We watch the brightness from such a beautiful spectre and like a fly become transfixed and immobile in the light, at best only flapping our enfeebled wings in admiration. Forever the fan, never the player." (Funmi Iyanda)In the above, Funmi mirrowed my sentiments. As I see the young, old, good and bad sing Obama’s praises and chant :Yes, we can, I wonder if we actually can, if we are willing to take any bold steps towards Change that we so desperately need. A newborn has been named Obama, soon there will be also Obama part 1 and 2. And that just may be the end of it.Ebun Olatoye has called for us to gather at 14 Muri Okunola at 12.30p.m on Sunday November 9 and at 4pm- 7pm in front of Moremi Hall to protest the injustice. Will you respond, Will I?

Saturday, November 01, 2008

I have just received some not very good news, but I refuse to dwell on it and choose instead to cast it as a burden on God for he careth for me.

I read so many blogs and they all mean different things to me, but off the top of my head i will be writing this so if I leave you out, it don't mean nada,this is supposed to be quite unserious.

Waffarian: I just find her very funny. Even when she writes something serious, it still comes across to me as humourous. Her post on catching the bus had me cracking up. Fortunately, she posts often so I can always rely on her to entertain me. oops, I just visted her blog, her most recent post isn't funny at all. Another online writer has been arrested,here.

Jaycee: She is like my devotional. After a hard day,I visit her blog to relax with God.Fineboy agbero: Now that kid is simply kolomental. I thoroughly enjoy his stories, wish he would blog more though.

Solomonsydelle: I rely on her for the latest info on Nigeria. I caught the end f the channels closure news on TV and immediately rushed to her blog, she didnt dissapoint me, she had the whole story up.

Jinta: Egbon mi. Even though he doesnt write very serious stuff, he comes across as serious. Possible because I have a picture of him in my my head-respectable maried man. yes I know he isn't married,the phrase just sounded nice.

Headandaround: I almost always agree with her point of view. Looking forward to a post of hers that I will shake my hea and say nope, nope, that's not true.

Walking: The newest kid on the blog, wonderful relationship talks,all the guys on blogsville should read her.

bellanaija/gistmaster/lindaikeji: They save me money on softsale,I can get all the gists from their blogs.

Fiyanda: I loved her when she used to write for tempo(yes,I old small), her blog takes me back to those days.

Afrolicious-babe: I don't normally read sex stuff or anything that alludes to it but Afrobabe writes about it so beautifully its dificult not to be hooked. Come to think about it, she doesn't really write about sex, does she?

Gnaija: Amazingly intelligent and still sounds fun.

Naijablog: Have a lovehate relationship with him, some of his posts annoy me so but he is quite up to date so I visit often.

freeflowingflorida: I want the old her back.

Anotherwomanslife: Fantastic writing, fantastic personality.

Name withheld: I had a crush on this one till I met him and the crush disappeared.Don't ask me why. And don't look at me like that, who said married peeps don't have crushes, I have a permaent crush on DW. Igwe hates the fact yet he has a crush on Dakore. Who is more likely to meet his/her crush?

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Someone I know just left Kiri Kiri Prison in Nigeria after a two week sojourn. The reason she was there will be another post.

She tells me she met people who have been there for months/years for offences as little as going out before 10am on environmental sanitation days. They were fined 5,000, couldn't pay and were thrown in jail. They may or may never get out. Now, I haven been taken to court as well for not using the pedestrian bridge by some crazy Kai people. They fined me 3k or something or three months in jail. I found it all quite amusing and didnt really take them serious. Igwe came to the place-some customary court in Surulere- with a truckload of soldiers. We ended up not paying a dime. Igwe chose instead to spend more money entertaining the bored soldiers than to give some judge who probably didnt pass his law exams. Now thinking back, I remember several people who had no one to call, and who begging the judges/policemen/Kai officials. Listening to my friend as she recounts the stories of the inmates at Kiri, it occurs to me that I could easily have been one of them had I no family or friends. Three months I hear is never three months so I would have been blogging from Kiri ville.

Of particular interest to me was the story of a young girl whom she befriended. I will call her Ekaette. Ekaette had a baby as a teenager in some village, couldn't cope so she left the baby with her mother and came to find some green in Lagos. She joined a brothel, which fortunately or unfortunately got raided and that's how she landed in prison. She may have doctored her story but point is she has no familyin Lagos and no idea how she will get out. Several inmates have been abandoned there and their only hope is on activists who from time to time take up their cases and see to their release. Just what kind of legal system do we run?

But that is not even the Koko of the matter. Naturally, the conditions there are bad. Supplies are limited if not inexistent. My source tells me churches,charities etc come regularly with sanitory towels,tissues, soaps, and other regular women needs but the inmates don't get a thing. The wardens, junior and senior alike take them home. It's an open secret. They do not care what you think. How on earth do these people sleep at night. I just don't freaking get it, why would anyone want to rob people that have already been robbed of so much.

I went to visit her and I had to pay(I am trying not say bribe) at four different points to be able to see her. And this was during visiting hours. If you do not pay, you are not allowed in. No wonder some of the inmates are forgotten by family, as some people may not have any money to spare. And these officers are paid a salary. How do they sleep at night?

I used to say that God should do to us as He did to Sodom and Gomorrah, destroy all the bad people in the land and if I am found wanting, I too should go.Then I repented and thought that was too harsh but when I hear stories like this, I think perhaps that's the only option. There seems to be too much evil in this country. Just where do you start from?

Saturday, September 27, 2008

I just read this. Practically everyone I know has been robbed either in traffic or in their homes. A gun has been pointed at me not by robbers but by agberos(perhaps there is no difference) who scampared off when I gave them NGN500 originally meant for my dinner. I, like many Lagosians had almost come to accept crime as part of our lives in this crazed country. You hear of robberies and rumours of robberies and shrug, how many times will you shed a tear? But this story gets to me,it sobers me. Why? When will it end? Will it ever end?

A friend of mine tells me the soaring rate of crime in the country is caused my unemployment. I disagree, I think greed now lives in us. If you aren't making quick cash off politics, then you should be making it off yahoo,yahooo and where you cannot break into either field,you carry the gun. If your friend's driving the latest BM, you've got to get one for yourself. Yes there's unemployment, but there's employment too and self employment.And of course, there is the fact that the government has gone to bed. last year, you couldn't walk leisurely on my streets in the dark, you had to walkrun to avoid running into the dark guys. We resorted to OPC, and now I can take walks without much fear(cos you still have to be afraid).In the mornings,I see them brandishing guns meant for the police. We bought the guns, we pay them a salary and we pay taxes too.This is not my country,this is not the Nigeria of my childhood where my family sat under the moonlight listening to Grandpa's tales. The Nigeria where we had no fences nor gates.This is not the Nigeria of my dreams where everyone has food and water,and power and security and laughter. Where did that Nigeria go?

I am also sad that Yinka Craig is dead. I really wanted him to win the fight against cancer. Like Fela, his works,his name will live long after him.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

So I watched dragon's den some nights ago. Hmmmmm. I used to watch the Uk version, my brother and I considered buying the franchise to air in Nigeria. Someone beat us to it. Now, If I wasn't previously worried about the Nigerian Educational system, now I am alarmed. something has to be done and urgently too. The entreprneurs or wannabe entrepreneurs were just plain annoying. No proper research. Very bad presentations, I don't understand it, how do you go asking people to give you millions and yet you do no homework. One of the guys claimed to be a photographer, when asked what training he had, he said he had attended some workshops and read some books on photography no specifics given. Another was asked something about the sales of her product, she said she's only the designer so she couldn't provide any figures? Yet another money seeker was asked what percentage of his biz, he was putting on the table, he hesitated, then said 30%. One of the dragons asked him if he hadn't thought of that before, and he answered in the affirmative. Now, don't people know when to lie?I wasn't interested in most of the ideas so I can't remember them but the presentatation bothered me a lot. I know that basic education in this country sucks but if one has spent time brewing a business idea(no matter how crappy), isn't it only proper to do put in a little effort into the idea and into one's self?PS. I do not think that dragon's den is necessarily a representation of the average Nigerian enterpreneur.

On ChileremThat is my son's name. I know I have announced his birth like a hundred times on this blog. Forgive me if I have started to bore you. This part is inspired by afrobabe's and florida's recent post on Christ. On the fourth month, I was rushed to hospital for bleeding sillylily, doc did his examination and announced that I was about to miscarry. They put me up and waited.Now that happened to be the day Igwe was coming in. There he was at the airport,excited to be seeing his round wife soon, only to be told, the roundness would be gone by the time he arrives. We refused to accept it,and prayed and prayed and prayed. I know the exact moment I was healed, the blood ceased. A scan was done, baby was fine, no trace of blood nor its origin. igwe arrived in the evening. I was still round.I say this to encourage someone, it don't matter what you are going through orwhat you are looking up to God for,just hold on,help is on the way.

I leave you with the video below. He is my brother in law so you must like itoooo. Just kidding, its okay to be sincere.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

I typed a long post yesterday and it disappeared. I will sue bloggerooooo.

Anyway I'm here. Missed you guys. A big thank you to all who contributed towards my dissertation. God bless y'all.

The birth of my child was a miracle. Several emergencies but God saw us through. I dont like the NHS but I gas to give them credit;I called an ambulance once and in 2 minutes they arrived.No kidding, my brother had barely got off the phne with them when they arrived.

My one year sourjourn in the U.K has made me more ati-west than I was before. And more determined to do something about Naija, do not ask me what, but I must.

I'm good generally and happy to be back in Nigeria and to the blogosphere.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

I need a bit of help.The Brutish Airways issue is one of my case studies so please if you blogged about it or linked it or put up a poster about the boycott, could you kindly let me know. I am trying to ascertain the power and effect of blogging.

Also, expert bloggers in the house, apart from the neo-counter, is there any other way I can find out how many visitors were at a blog? I believe that politiocal/activist bloggers like theafrobeat,solomonsydelle,gnaija,comrade,chxta,nneoma etc attract as many readers as others like afrobabe,jinta,pink-satin etc who deal with softer issues. But I need to prove this, and right now all I got is the number of comments each post generates and thats not good enough. Help, anyone?

It's difficult to be holding a little baby and typing away, but I attended Sefi Attah's reading long ago and when asked how she finished her novel despite having to care for a little girl. She said, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do, and recounted how once at 3am, she was feeding the baby with one hand and typing with another. I am drawing my inspiration from her.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Someone should warn Okiro. First, he said he wanted to vet Nollywood scripts to stop them from portraying the police in a bad light. Who doesn't know the police is bad. Hiss,hiss. Now he wants to set up anti-terrorist squad. The thives and militants that are harassing hardworking Nigerians everyday, are they not worthy of an anti-something squad?Last weekend, Igwe was robbed at gun point on his way home. They stripped him and his brother of everything.Five nasty looking men wielding five nasty guns. And Okiro and his men where busy brainstorming on how to deal with Al-quaeda.Nonesense!

Someone should also warn Soludo. He should stop shooting his mouth about how Nigerian graduates are unemployable and explain to me why he introduced coins knowing fully well we weren't going to use them.How much was spent producing the coins? Was it another ploy to bleed Nigeria? And while he is at it, he should also let me know why his highly capitalised banks seem to always need money and more money. Almost all the banks have had two IPO's now,very soon they will return to the public a third time . Inspite of this, their marketers are always about town,looking for more deposits. What exactly is the money for, when one can't even get loans,my sister battled with one of the banks for months trying to secure a loan,they finally approved 1m(less than she asked for) and wanted her to pay it back in three months. It was for a movie and they knew it, how do you make a film and distribute it in three months. She told them to shove it up you know where. I thought banks had pledged to help SME's. He should explain to me in very simple terms since I went to a Nigerian university and won't understand big 'grammar'. All the politicians, ministers, and their entire generation, who studied abroad, how have they improved Nigeria? Every knows the problem but no one can fix it. Nonsense!

PLease also warn SEC or NSE, whatever body is in charge. Chicken republic decided to go public, with my hard earned little money I bought some of the shares, three months later, they return investors' money saying they had changed their minds? Imaginez, so what did they do with people's money in three months?They probably fixed it and reaped interest. Should SEC not have a law to protect against such? Warn themooooo.Nonsense!

Finally,please kindly inform Yardy that he is the President of Nigeria and not Britain or the States. He gave an interview to financial times on his plans for the future,what happened to the Nigerian Media? It is Nigerians at home that are desperate for change: the nigerians who are constantly afraid for their lives, who have no power supply,no adequate health services,no good roads,do these people read FT? He thinks perhaps he is too much for the local press, he shouldn't worry, they will soon put him in his place, OBJ did more than that. Nonsense!

On the bright side, Igwe got his bank and ID cards back.He was robbed at Yaba, got a call from someone who claimed he saw them on the floor at Ketu,may have been a good Nigerian or one of the thieves with a conscience. My sister in law was robbed once, she got her cards sent to her home address by speed post.No kidding!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Also a little tatafo: BBC aired pictures of the Tsunami passing them off as the Chinese Earth quake. Any wonder I do not like the Western press? Why do they love horror stories of other nations so much? They have since apologised, saying it was a mistake. Mistake indeed!

My dissertation is going well. Still havent received a lot of consent mails from several bloggers but will continue to chase them. Thank you everyone.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

UPDATEThere seems to be a fraud issue concerning the Yinka Craig fund. The number given in the article is rumoured to be false. And it is being suggested that the writer of the article may not mean well. These are all rumours but since it is a money issue, I would suggest we suspend this.I for one, will stick to praying for the family for now but if anyone would still like to know more, please visit their site.

First I will like to commend Nigeria village square for the good work they are doing. Not too long ago they donated NGN 720 for Baby Andrew's operation. He has since returned home, the operation having been successful. Today they are calling for donations to help Yinka, I will not repeat the entire story here, please just follow this link. Yinka Craig has been diagnosed with lymphoma. He needs 38 million for a transplant in the states. Considering what the family has been through already, they simply do not have the funds.

I have met the man before, a long time ago when my sister was new in entertainment and needed help. He offered it freely.

There is a number on the article that you can call and find out how to make the donations or we could come together and contribute a sum as Nigerian bloggers. Those in the Uk could send their donations perhaps to afrobabe or jinta. That should take afrobabe's attention off sex for a while. And the states perhaps Solomonsydelle. And Nigeria, maybe Head and around. These are just my suggestions and do not have to be agreed with.I know times are hard now particularly in this UK where one budgets for bread money, but nothing is too small, and if done collectively, you will be surprised at what we would come up with.

As I often say, the Nigerian government has failed us, but we must not fail ourselves. All we have is one another.

Please if you believe in the cause, kindly link this on your blog.

PSDr Erastus Akingbola of Intercontinental bank has already donated 5million. He is always doing stuff like this. I doff my heart for him.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Tomorrow, we would have lit candles And you would have blown them outYou left my womb, but you stayed in my heartAnd though I never saw you,I created an image of you that will last a life time.Tomorrow,You would have been one.

Monday, April 07, 2008

I bring you good tidings. My brother just returned from Nigeria. He visited our home state:Akwa Ibom and after being away for only two years was amazed at the changes.

The new governor who hasn't been there for up to a year is doing amazing things. Uyo, he says looks fantastic, all roads in tact. He has extended the road fixing to other smaller cities in the state. And last december, civil servants were paid the thirteenth month. His explanation: The state has money, everybody might as well enjoy it. Akwa Ibom being mostly a civil service state was overjoyed.

An airport is also being built so we can stop having to go through Calabar everytime we visit home.

The best part is Operation 'Oduma'. Oduma in Ibibio means thunder. Thieves were besieging the state ,suspected millitants who had superior weapons. So dear Godswill(governor) drafted the army, the navy, the police into a group called Operation Oduma to battle these daredevils. And guess what they succeeded. All you have to do is call and they are there as quickly as possible. Two of my cousins have used the service and in less than five minutes, the security service arrived and the thieves scrammed and in one instance were apprehended. The people walk about freely now knowing they are safe. This is how I remember my state as a little child.

May God bless the governor and keep his foot in the right place.

My brother also noted changes in Lagos. BRT surprisingly works. He says Nigerians actually queue without any struggles. There are however not enough buses as he tried to get into one but the queue was unbearably long, he had to leave. I was sceptical about the BRT buses and I still think it wasnt a carefully thought out project but the fact that it has kicked off and Lagosians have embraced it is a good sign. May God bless Fashola and give him wisdom to bring further changes.

I believe in Adams Oshimole. I trust him, and even as he has not yet resumed office, Iknow that he will bring the desired change in Edo.

Suddenly, the New Nigeria doesn't seem like such a pipe dream anymore. The federal government may have failed us, but we will not fail ourselves.

Saturday, March 29, 2008

There is a special place in hell for women who do not help other women. ~Madeleine K. Albright

Patricia Etteh certainly tops the list. In September, 2007, she was accused of spending N628 million on renovations of her official residence and that of her deputy and for the purchase of 12 official cars. Patricia Etteh was the first female to be appointed Speaker in the Nigerian government. She had a chance to be a heroine but blew it.She was eventually forced to resign.

Iyabo Obasanjo. The EFCC is still investigating her role in the N3.5billion contract to the Austrian company Schneider which did not follow due process.And now it is being alleged that the ministry of health gave her a gift of N10 million. I would have thought that with so much negativity surrounding the Obasanjo name, she would have used her place of authority to undo whatever little damage she can to her family name but Alas!

Professor Adenike Grange was until last week the minister of Health. She, too has been forced to resign due to charges of corruption.She is alleged to have supervised the squandering of N300million unspent public funds last december. She is a medical doctor, one would have thought that certain professionals would dare to live above certain crimes. Grange must have taken an oath after medical school to put human lives before all else, and yet She spends N300million on furniture, car etc while several Nigerian women and children die of poverty related diseases. I wonder if this is the same Grange of Grange schools,Lagos -one of the moxt expensive primary schools, if that is the case, I guess it only makes the situation worse as it shows some people's insatiable need for money. Grange like Etteh, could have been a heroine, making changes in the health sector which Nigeria so badly needs but she didn't and instead has dipped her name in the mud.

Senator Eme Ufot Ekaette though not reported to have stolen any money, I could not help but add her to this list because of her obvious lack of intellect as she proposed the infamous indecent dressing bill.

I have been shut down more than once at talks on issues of women empowerment and equality, Etteh and Ekaette are always thrown at my face, now Grange has been added to the list.

However, Dora Akunyili continues to do us proud. She has received several awards including Times award-one of the 18 heroes of our times and an Intergrity award by Transparency International.If she could stand out as one great Nigerian woman, surely there are a few others. We will soon discover them.

On some entirely unrelated issues: I am happy that Oshimole is now governor of Edo state. Congratulations to him and to the people of Edo for backing him. I see change coming.

An aircraft belonging to wings airline allegedly owned by Ibori dissappeared about two weeks ago and has since not been found. If this isn't the height of shame on the Nigerian Aviation sector, then I don't know what is.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

I am chatting with a distant friend on yahoo messenger and he says to me:

'Come home quickly and give your husband a son'. I say nothing and he continues.

'Having a son is a man's pride, I am sure you know that, the moment you give him a son he will love you forever' I am still silent and he adds, 'don't let too much time pass you by'

I just flipped.Is it just this guy I know, or is it Nigerian guys or is it guys generally, why the hell do people just talk without thinking?. Last time I chatted with this guy( I really should stop) he went on and on about this baby issue, why did I leave my husband to come study, was I pregnant?Eventually had to tell him about our last bereavement and silly guy wanted details,imagine. I told him off albeit nicely, but this time I blew my top. If you don't have anything to say, by all means sharrraaap.

A friend of mine lost her baby last year and has since been trying for another. Nothing is happening and when it does, she miscarries.All this is tough on her but the toughest part is neigbours, church members who keep asking her if 'anything has entered, and why they are taking so long'. I know some of these people may mean well, but pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease, everyone should know where to draw the line.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

It always puzzles me when bloggers who do not update regularly ask me to update. Headandaround, take your timeooo.Like comrade, I too do not like to do an I woke up on the wrong side of bed post.(nothing wrong with such postsooo.) Anyway I decided to cite a few differences in the past and in today's as a Nigerian. Hopefully the bad will not surpass the good.

Previously, Nigerian men were very brave. Once, when I was younger, there was loud knocking on our gate and my father went out with his matchete asking who they were.No fears. It turned out to be some long lost uncles looking for a place to sleep.Last year, armed robbers visited our compound, one of my neighbours, the ony man actually present, offered them his laptop and the only money he had(2k) even before they asked.Inspite of his kind gesture, he still received a butt from the gun on his cheek and still shakes like a leaf if you sneak up behind him today. His wife still teases him(I know guys will attack me for this one).

Most Nigerians studying here paid their own fees themselves. Most of them I know from home-colleagues, school mates etc. We worked hard, we invested hard, and we saved hard and here we are most of us less than 30. Previously, you had to be a military personnel's kid or your parents were in oil or they used their entire or half of their gratuity to sponsor you.Rarely were young ones able to finance their own postgraduate education. There was no booming bank industry, or insurance or telecoms,or advertising, or entertainment. But today, thanks to the emerging middle class, now we can.

I vaguely remember generators growing up. From my life in Ikot Ekpene till I moved in with my sister in the 90's, it wasn't so important to have one. Either it wasn't as hot as it is now, or NEPA was much better but now it's a must have. What with the advent of I better pass my neighbor(the small ones that cost less than 10k).Where did we go wrong?

All you had to do was say you were a christian in the past, and it meant you had integrity, now the devil seems to me living in the church. To say you are a pastor arouses even more suspicion.

Women are so much bolder now. A friend of mine visited the galleria recently, left her boyfriend to use the bathroom, when she returned, a young girl was chatting him up. Shuooo. The good side is that this boldness extends beyond relationships, women are speaking up and demanding better recognitions for their roles at home, and at work.

Children are so sharp these days. Asking very intelligent questions. At a 4 year old's party, a girl asked the boy why he was dancing with another girl, and he asked why she was late for his party. Now, I don't know if that is a good thing, and that is not what I meant by intelligent question.

Thanks to the new media-blogs, saharareporters(where do those guys get their pictures from?),social networking sites etc most Nigerians now have a voice. Change is coming.

Monday, March 03, 2008

Yesterday evening, Igwe went to the 'bureau de change' at Sabo, Yaba. As he was haggling with the money changers, bullets started flying in the air. So everyone scattered. Unfortunately Some people were wounded, and several windscreens broken. The robbers had a field day. The interesting part is that the Sabo police station is about two minutes from the crime scene. According to him, one of the thieves was stationed infront of the police station firing into the station and daring any of them to come out. Typically none of them did.Nigeria, I hail thee. Okiro, I salute you. You certainly are doing great things about the safety of lives and property.Igwe went back for his car which was fortunately unscathed and was told that some well meaning Nigerians had taken the wounded to chemists as Luth and Igbobi(the govt. hospitals closest to the area) are on strike. They didnt think private hospitals would treat them without deposits and the bleeding had to be stopped ASAP.I pray for Nigeria as if I owned it, and a blogger friend of mine knows how I pray when I am praying about the corrupt leaders. Someday, God will hear me.

Ben Okri was in Leicester, I bought one of his books so I could get it autographed, gave the guy my name and he asked where that was from, I said Nigeria,why he didn't stop there, I dont know, he asked which part and I said Akwa Ibom, he had no idea where that was, even when I said former cross river, he still loooked blank. I wasn't even upset as I had always thought he was from Benue,I have since found out that he is from Delta. How can you be from Delta and you have never heard of Akwa Ibom?. They call him 'Nigerian born British writer' maybe that explains it.There is a good part to it though, he is 48,single, goodlooking and quite an interesting character. Interested anyone?

I have finally discovered local chicken. It tastes just like the ones my mum used to rear, those ones that raomed around the compound free until they were old enough. Yesterday as I cracked the bones, I was in high heavens. I had so complained about how tasteless chicken here is, I think they grow them in 5 days. Yes I like food.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

‘Until we, as Nigerians get up and say enough is enough. Until we realize that we deserve much, much, much more than we are getting, until we get to the point of no return, when we are prepared to die for what we believe in- indeed until we believe in anything other than in our personal comfort- we will continue to be led by our noses.’ Chxta

I got the above quote from chxta’s blog, I couldn’t agree more. Nigeria is in our hands. Nobody else’s. We all have to rise up and demand change. The government isn’t going to do it till we vote the right people in power or better still contest for these positions. With all the hullabaloo about the last elections, the only credible candidate in my opinion was probably Pat Utomi but he didn’t win. If the elections were not rigged, perhaps Buhari or Atiku would have been president. Would that have been better?

Now that Obama is making headway with the American presidential elections, Nigerians are starting to think perhaps Utomi may stand a chance. Before this, we said he was not experienced enough, he did not understand Nigerian politics. For all the people who understand it, pray tell, what have they done for us.

I believe in demonstrations, in strike, whatever is necessary to register a message. In the Western world, they have pressure groups, when the British government wanted to extend Heathrow, they did a march at the airport, when they wanted to shut down post offices, they also demonstrated, they do not always succeed but they have a voice, a very loud one. In Nigeria what do we have? Apart from the NLC and a few activists who else dares to speak out? Most NGO’s seem to be interested in HIV and some youth advancement programmes, while I applaud these causes, like Pink Satin noted, some things can only be done by the Nigerian government but we must impress on them to do so. We cannot build roads, we cannot conduct elections, we cannot supply ourselves power etc. As long as we have a ‘siddon’ look approach, then Nigeria will not change. I remember the last NLC strike and how traders started to complain about how much they were loosing and they wanted to go back to their markets so they could earn their daily bread. As I read the news on the fire in Tejuosho, this episode came back to mind. Had the NLC or some group, said lets march to the governor’s office everyday for one week and demand for a functional fire service, these traders would have said no, leave us to enjoy the little that we have, now its all gone, gutted away by fire. If we had a fire service that worked, perhaps some things would have been saved.

I do not like discomfort as I suppose no one else does but we must be ready to suffer a little discomfort before we can enter the land of promise.

The bill on indecent dressing has now gone for second reading; again we look on in silence. It will probably be passed and the Nigerian police will have a field day. I can just imagine them ordering me out of my car so they can inspect my clothes. Perhaps then we will start to complain in hushed voices afraid that even the complaints may land us behind cells.

Sometimes I wonder if we are not under a government that we deserve. Yesterday I had a conversation with a friend of mine who has lived in England for about seven years now, her previous years having been spent in Nigeria. She said a friend of mine was moving back to Nigeria against her will but on her husband’s insistence. I said she will adapt and added that my friend also moved to England because of her husband, she doesn’t like it here but is slowing adapting. My friend said one can adapt to England but that it would be impossible to adapt to Nigeria. This coming from someone who grew up in Nigeria. This is perhaps where the white man differs, my history sucks but I do know that England, America, Germany etc had their own tough times, the citizens didn’t run or condemn their country as hopeless, they stayed together, worked together and today we are running to them, calling their country Heaven. While I have nothing against anyone who chooses to live abroad, I would expect that they at least contribute positively even if only in speech.

Before Nigeria can change, we must adopt an if I perish, I perish attitude and speak up for change because if we continue to lie low because we do not want to die or be discomforted in anyway, then crime will take over our beloved nation, planes will continue to crash, road accidents will continue to occur, another ‘Odi’ massacre may happen. Like Niran Okewole said in his poem about the Nigeria bomb blast ;‘to escape by fire is to die by water’. Those who thought they had escaped death from the blast died in the carnal.There will be no simple way out. All well meaning Nigerians must come together and decide enough is enough.

Friday, February 08, 2008

Another piece I thought my readers would be interested in for those who missed it on the news. NHS is closing its doors to foreign doctors.I think this is just the beginning, it is slowly going to cut across several other fields. England has been screaming immigrants must go for a while now, just like we screamed Ghana must go sometime back. I know loads of Nigerians here practising as doctors, I fear that they may not get their contracts renewed, what then would happen to them? Please tell me what you think?

Saturday, February 02, 2008

This one is by Jeremiah Gyang. I adore the guy. His message is very different; rapture, repentance, forgiveness, holiness etc, the things we hardly hear much of these days.Any time I hear he is in concert in Lag, I try to be in attendance, usually he sits on stage quietly playing his guitar and singing softly. I didn't know he had this much energy as displayed in the video.

Friday, February 01, 2008

I decided to post some of my favourite songs this weekend. I am starting with Aye Ole by Infinity. I love the yoruba language. It is so deep, I often say that if I ever choose to have my book translated into a Nigerian language, it would have to be yoruba. Enjoy and have a great weekend!

Friday, January 25, 2008

The above is a newspiece on punch newspaper. I cannot believe it. Is Eme Ekaette drunk or on drugs? How on earth will this take our country foward, will it put food on the tables of the millions of Nigerians that can't afford even akara, will it provide healthcare for the indigenes of Okokomaiko, Bariga and other highly populated areas in Lagos. Has she ever gone there to see eight people living in one room with little or no ventilation? And this is all she can think about? This is the legacy that she wants to leave behind?

Some weeks ago, I wrote about women being women's worst enemies.I didn't expect that so soon, I would have to do a 'part two'.I just want to know how this will improve the lot of the average Nigerian. And what is indecent anyway? Are there bills to protect the woman from a violent husband? or bills on child abuse? on rape, on victimization of women at work?Ekaette is hoping that women will rise up to support her, and yes several women will, women who feel that their husbands will stop cheating if they are no longer exposed to semi dressed women because I can't imagine what other reason there is for this crazy idea.I am so upset that words fail me.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

The first part of this post was inspired by a post on in my head's blog .Other issues are just me ranting on.

I do not like Western media, so when I saw the piece on Jeremy's blog on child witches in Akwa Ibom, I thought these people have come againooo. But I did not think much of it until head and around blogged on it. I have two issues with it; one, what is the authenticity of this story? For all I know, the video was shot in Botswana. Secondly, what is the purpose of the documentary? Was it because the writer wanted someone to read it and do something about it?or was it to show the world how savage Africans are? Does it make them feel better when they continue to show only strictly terrible sides of the continent. Even on completely unrelated news pieces on BBC for instance,as a footnote, they must add some crazy records from UN or show some videos about Africa's suffering children.The idea is to represent Nigeria so why don't they ever show Abuja, Lekki, Calabar, etc?

I have lived in the village, I have had times of lack even as a child but I was NEVER unhappy. What I remember now is running through my gradfather's orchard plucking away his fruits in abandon, riding bicycles through untarred roads without any fear of being hit down, and my grandmother's unbeatable meals. I do not remember mosquito bites even as we sat under the moonlight listening to folk tales and there were no trips to the hospital. I was healthy, we all were. I spent a weekend at Ikogosi warm water springs, it was a beautiful time, even without electricity, network connection etc.

I am grateful for civilization and everyone deserves a chance at it but it does not neccessary mean happiness. Some times it can do us more harm than good as we have seen in the Niger delta, the people were probably happy that oil companies were coming to them, they had no idea that their source of livelihood would be taken from them without a replacement. I, like Paul, have learnt to be content in whatever situation I find my self.

I am very passionate about Nigeria. I have no regrets that I was brought up and educated in Nigeria.I do not say that I am Nigerian and proud because I do not see the need to. And I know that a lot of Nigerians are proud of their citizenship but lately I've been getting worried about Nigerian's comment about Nigeria. Particular over here, it's not just Western media that is giving out bad vibes, we all are. I do not apologise for being Nigerian, if some of my people have chosen to be 419 scammers, then it's a pity, the same way it's a pity that our leaders are corrupt and have sold their souls. NO one can make me feel bad about it cos it ain't my fault in anyway. The same way it's not the average Briton's fault that their teenagers are finding stabbing and teenage pregnancy a fun game. We have our issues, they have theirs.

Nigeria has issues, I would be a fool not to admit that but most of my memories are fond ones and these are the ones I share often. Twice my car overheat at Lagos Island and Ebutte metta,and it was the area boys, the same ones whom I expected to rob me who gave me water. We may not have emergency lines that we can ring in emergency situations, but there'll always be a neighbor, sometimes a total stranger to help. If there's a fire outbreak, fire service is unlikely to have water but neigbors will give up their last buckets to lend a helping hand. One day hopefully, we will have more to celebrate but for now this is what we have. This love that we all share as Nigerians living in dire conditions.

On a lighter note, the soweto choir comes to leicester next month so while you guys are stuck in Lagos traffic or standing in jampacked trains, I will be putting my feet up and enjoying pure unadulterated music.

Friday, January 11, 2008

I remember once, I was talking to a renowned Nigerian publisher, a man whose opinion I respect, I mentioned that I live in a compound with four flats and all inhabitants are Igbo. I joked that if a tribal war broke out, we would be first target but he assured me there would be no tribal war in Nigeria and I should worry about other likely things. I believed him but watching Kenya's drama unfold, my mind goes back to our conversation and I wonder. Who would have thought that brothers will rise up against brothers in the once stable Kenya.

I am Ibibio but grew up in a small town-Ikot Ekpene, the people there are Anangs. We differ in dialect, in dance but that's all I can think of and I can't imagine that one day the same people I danced with naked under the rain would one day hold knives to my throat because they say 'a-nyong' while I say 'ameyong' both meaning welcome.

I dont understand why people give wrong information, the bank debited my account some amount and I wanted it explained, the banker I met, who looked more like a school boy, told me it cldn't be handled there and I should call some number, the guy at the number ended up confusing me even more, so I went back to my branch and demanded to see the manager who sorted it all out and gave me a refund. These kind of things puzzle me, why didnt he simply say, I'm not sure about it,let me get someone who can help! While I was working in Naija, the key point of our training was if in doubt, ASK. Once my brother-in-law went to cash a cheque for his mum, and the cashier said her name wasn't in the system, my mother in-law went there panicking only to discover the lady had mispelt the name.

School resumes on Monday. Much as I find most lectures boring, I am actually looking forward to it. I always feel like I am in China with so many chineese students and boy do they have gadgets, laptops of all shapes and sizes, and the phones, they just blow my mind. My next holiday is likely to be in China.

About Me

I want to live life to the fullest and assist if only one child to do same. My passion is for the african girl child to be free, to have several choices. In whatever way that I can, I want to make life better for her.